How to export stems from Logic Pro

Platform and version

Export every track as its own file

In Logic Pro, a track export renders each track through its own channel strip, fader and plug-ins, but not through Stereo Out. Every file begins at the project start, which is what makes stems line up when they are dropped into Pro Tools, Ableton Live or another Logic project. The option names below are as Apple documents them in the Logic Pro User Guide.

1. Clean up first. Delete or mute tracks the engineer does not need, name every track properly (the file names come from the track names), and bypass or remove any limiter, Mastering Assistant or bus compressor on Stereo Out. Track exports skip that strip anyway, but you want the stems to add up to the mix the engineer heard.
2. Decide about sends. Reverb and delay on aux channel strips are not exported as part of the tracks that feed them. If you want the effects printed into the stems, either export the aux tracks too (they appear as their own tracks when you add them to the Tracks area) or use Bounce in Place on each track first. If the engineer will add their own effects, leave sends out.
3. Open the dialog. Choose File > Export > All Tracks as Audio Files. To export only some tracks, select them in the Tracks area and choose File > Export > Selected Tracks as Audio Files instead (Apple's older guide names the single-track version Track as Audio File).
4. Name and locate. Enter a name and choose a new, empty folder. Logic appends each track's name to the files it writes.
5. Set Save Format and Bit Depth. WAVE and 24 for anything going to another DAW. Apple's guide lists these as pop-up menus; the sample rate follows the project.
6. Choose how multi-output instruments are handled. Under Multi-Output Software Instruments, One File per Track mixes a multi-output instrument such as Drum Kit Designer down to one file; One File per Channel Strip writes the extra aux outputs separately so the engineer can balance kick, snare and overheads.
7. Decide on Bypass Effect Plug-ins. Leave it unticked to print your insert chains into the stems. Tick it when the brief says dry.
8. Tick Include Audio Tail. Logic extends each file until instrument releases and insert effects have decayed, instead of cutting at the last region boundary.
9. Decide on Include Volume/Pan Automation. Ticked, your fader and pan rides are applied to the files. Unticked, Apple states the automation is copied but not performed, so the files play at the static fader position. Most mix engineers want rides printed on vocals and left off everything else; ask.
10. Set Normalize. Off for stems. Overload Protection Only if a hot track might clip. Never On, because normalizing each stem separately destroys the balance between them.
11. Optionally tick Add resulting files to Project Audio Browser, then click Save.

Export Track Stack stems

A Summing Track Stack (a folder track with its own aux) is the easiest way to deliver grouped stems such as Drums, Vocals or Synths. Select the stack's main track and choose File > Export > Selected Tracks as Audio Files; the summed output of the stack exports as one file carrying the stack's name. If you select the subtracks inside the stack instead, each exports separately. For a session that needs both, run the export twice into two folders named Stems and Multitrack.

Naming for a mix engineer

Engineers import stems by name, so the track names are the deliverable. Before exporting, rename tracks to a consistent pattern such as 01 Kick In, 02 Kick Out, 10 Bass DI, 20 LeadVox. The leading number keeps the files in your mixer order when sorted. Avoid slashes, colons and emoji, which break file names on some systems. Put the song's tempo, key and sample rate in the folder name (for example SongName_128bpm_Am_48k_stems) and include a bounced rough mix in the same folder so the engineer knows what you intended.

Logic Pro for iPad

Apple's support article states that Logic Pro for iPad can export all tracks or selected tracks as individual audio files, packaged in a ZIP that uses the file type you chose. Tap the project name, tap Export, choose the track export, pick the format, then Share and save the ZIP to Files outside the app's default folders. The iPad guide lists separate pages for AIFF and WAVE options, M4A options and processing details; the Mac-only checkboxes above do not all appear on iPad.

Export options by delivery type

Every file starts at the project start regardless of where the first region sits, so you do not need to add silence or a count-in. Check the folder once the export finishes: every file should have the same length (unless Include Audio Tail extended some) and the same sample rate.

Verify the stems before you upload them

Create a new empty project at the same sample rate and tempo, select all the exported files in the Finder and drag them onto the Tracks area; Logic offers to create one track per file. Press play. If the stems sound like your mix, they are ready. If they are louder or thinner than the mix, you probably relied on Stereo Out processing, which track exports leave out; tell the engineer what was on that strip, or bounce a reference mix for comparison.

Zip the folder before uploading so the file names survive the transfer. For the stereo reference mix, follow How to bounce in Logic Pro. If a long export stalls with a system overload alert, the buffer and disk advice on Logic Pro system overload applies, since track export renders every plug-in at once.